John a hero in two St Mirren teams amid style shift

[BBC] Declan John, marauding from his role in defence, perhaps offers more of an insight into the changing face of St Mirren football than would be expected. A chasm of drastically altered tactical intent is bridged by John, linking a heroic late sprint at Hampden to a goal on Sunday that channelled Carlos Alberto in the Azteca. The popular Welshman arrived in Paisley as emergency cover for Scott Tanser before quickly establishing himself as first choice on his preferred left flank, extending his short-term stay into a two-year deal with reasonable haste. While Tanser deserves plenty plaudits for his career in black and white, John carries the impression of being straight out of central casting for a Stephen Robinson side. Strong in the tackle, boundless endurance and a full-blooded willingness to commit forward and get the ball into the box. In December last year, as Robinson's reign in Paisley reached its undisputed high point with national silverware, hindsight will tell you this was also the beginning of the end. A fabulous period of sustained Buddies joy began to peter towards an inevitable conclusion - change in the dugout and on the pitch. This zenith can be neatly represented by John's lung-busting surge forward in the latter stages of the second half. When many were running on empty, John summoned all that he had available to outstrip the fresh legs of Celtic's Colby Donovan over 80 yards, somehow retaining the composure to then feed Jonah Ayunga and send the Saints into ecstasy with a 3-1 League Cup final win. All with any affection for the Buddies in Hampden celebrated in a moment that seemed to last a lifetime, save for the exhausted left-back who collapsed in a heap where he had stood. His race was run and he made way for Tanser as the din still rang in the ears of all left at the national stadium. This was Robbo-ball at its most devastating. Extracting every last ounce of effort and commitment from a united dressing room, punishing a toiling opponent with absolute ruthlessness. John, you would assume, was of this era. Fast-forward a mere nine months and change is in the air, as demonstrated in Sunday's 3-3 draw against Motherwell. St Mirren hold the early confidence of a side entrusted by their new manager, Craig McLeish, to play out from the back in front of, pound for pound, the angriest stand in Scottish football. Down early and looking bruised by last season's aesthetic standard bearers Motherwell, the Saints clawed one back through Paul Nsio before John had his say. Winning the ball back in his own half, John swivelled and found a team-mate yet continued his run. The selfless drive of Hampden made way, hurtling towards the Motherwell box in perfect stride as silky one-touch passing from his colleagues delivered the ball back on a plate. Where convention would have seen the ball rolled across the box for an onrushing attacker, the left foot of our left-back instead found a gap at the near post of Alex Paulsen's goal frame. Two St Mirren sides, diametrically opposed in their approach, both characterised in the big moments by their left-back who has already renewed through to 2028 in Paisley. Bring on Rugby Park. Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters